Retinol continues to be the long-standing best anti-aging skincare ingredient. Topical vitamin A, retinol, works to strengthen collagen in the skin. Though retinol is generally a helpful ingredient, there are many misconceptions about it. In today's blog we will be covering a common retinol misconception, and how to properly incorporate it into your skincare routine.

Am I allergic to retinol?

This is a common misconception about retinol. Our #PompPro estheticians express that many clients assume they are allergic to retinol. If they were using retinol in the past, they most likely incorporated it too suddenly. If you use too much retinol, your skin can develop redness, irritation, and dryness.

Also, prescription vitamin A is retinoic acid. And over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin A converts to retinoic acid. This means that prescription-strength will be stronger and more likely to cause irritation.

If one is still experiencing some irritation with the correct use of retinol, these are actually normal reactions. According to our estheticians, the skin has to thin and flake in order for it to work.

How to incorporate retinol

Our estheticians recommend incorporating retinol into your skincare routine slowly. It is important to always verify with a licensed esthetician if retinol will work best for your skin goals.

If an esthetician suggests incorporating retinol in your skincare routine, here are some best practices to be aware of...

Start small

• According to our estheticians, it is best to start incorporating retinol 1-3 times a week at first. You can gradually increase the use once your skin has adjusted. Most estheticians will base the strength of the retinol off of one's current skin conditions, what treatments they've had in the past, and age.

Nighttime routine

• It is best to begin incorporating retinol in your evening skincare regimen.

Pair with non-active ingredients

• Since retinol can be irritating to the skin, make sure to use gentle products as well. Do NOT layer retinol with more active ingredients to avoid more skin irritation.

If you want to learn more about retinol or see if retinol is the right fit for your skin, begin your custom skincare journey with one of our licensed estheticians here.